So... Yeah. I forgot the author's note last chapter. Anyway, I would like to address a few things really quick. First off, for the most part, I plan on having this not take itself to serious. An example of this is that the Pokémon can talk. It makes it more fun to write and I think to read as well. Also, this is going to be loosely based off of my LeafGreen Nuzlocke. This means that I will have the same team, and the deaths of the Pokémon will happen at the same time, but I will be excluding grinding segments, so let's just assume it happens between chapters. It also means that the plot won't necessarily be exactly the same and that characters will be my interpretation of them. I have currently played up through fighting Misty, meaning that any tips or pointers you guys give for the challenge itself, probably won't be used. I'm sorry, but it's easier for me this way. I have been keeping track of how the gym fights have gone and will try to recreate them as faithfully as possible. (Man, the Misty fight'll be so difficult to write. Anyway, no spoilers.) I might throw in some random fights that seem important or interesting as well. Also, I probaly won't be going into great detail with all of the encounters. Just the team members that I feel deserve it or that I personally really like. I think that's about all I have to say for now. Please, remember to review. I'd really like to hear your thoughts on the story and the members of the team and I'd like any suggestions you might have.
Professor Oak cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "I would also like for you to have these." He passed us both a small red device. "Those are known as Pokedex. They will automatically record data on Pokémon that you catch. It'll really help with my research if you could fill it up for me."
"No problem, Gramps. That'll be a walk in the park for me." Gary smirked arrogantly before looking in my direction. "Xeno, however, might have more difficulty with that."
I rolled my eyes at Gary. "Whatever you say." I turned towards the distinguished Pokémon Professor. "I will try to not disappoint, Professor."
Oak nodded. "How did I know that you would respond like that?" A sweat drop ran down the back of his head. "Oh. You'll probably need these as well." He turned around and opened one of his desk drawers and handed both of us 5 pokeballs. "If you're going to be catching Pokémon, you'll need some of these. I think that's all I wanted to talk to you about. Good luck on your journeys."
Gary returned Squirtle to his pokeball before turning and looking at me and Cal. "Normally, I would challenge you to a battle, but just looking at your Pokémon, tells me that I'd win. Smell ya later." With that he dashed out the door of the lab and vanished out of sight.
"Thank you again, Professor." Both, Cal and I smiled at the old scientist. "It means a lot that you would trust me with this task."
"Of course, I'd trust you, Xeno. You're one of my better lab assistants." Oak smiled as he reached out and rubbed Cal on the back of his head. "Be sure to protect your Pokemon. They're living things, just like you and me, but I doubt I'll have to worry about that with you, Xeno."
"Yeah. Anyway, I'm going to head out. Knowing Gary, he'll make big deal about how weak I am because I took forever. I'll call you later." With that I turned and exited the lab and made my way to the north with Cal following my steps closely. "Don't worry, Cal. You heard my promise to Oak, didn't you?" Immediately, after I said that a small Rattata tackled me in the chest, knocking the air out of my lungs. "You're a brave little one, aren't you?" I smiled down at the small rat.
"Come on. I want to fight." The voice coming from the Pokémon was distinctly female. It was a little bit higher pitched than that of a male Rattata. It was also less gravelly and more soothing, but I could tell that she was serious about challenging me.
"What do you think, Cal? Would you mind giving her a fight?" The fire type Pokémon nodded silently and slowly stepped out from behind my leg.
"Really? Thanks! Here I go!" The small purple Pokémon dashed at Cal and tackled him in the chest. Cal staggered backwards obviously caught off guard by her speed. However, he quickly swung his arm at her and left a few large scratches on her back. The Rattata got knocked sideways, and was obviously in a lot of pain, but she got right back up. "Wow! You are pretty strong!" She dashed at Cal again with the same speed she had used earlier, but then tripped and tumbled along the ground for a few feet before stopping with her face stuck in the ground right in front of Cal. "I meant to do that." She got back up and dusted herself off. "You two are awesome."
"I wouldn't say that. I could hardly keep up with you. How'd you learn to move like that?" It seemed that when battling the Rattata, Cal had forgotten all of the anxieties that he possessed just minutes earlier. I knew that Charmanders were typically great fighters, so I guess it's just instinctual for him.
"I guess it just comes with being small. Even for a Rattata, I'm smaller than average." This fact didn't really seem to bother her that much. It did seem to help her in battle, so I guess she just saw it as an advantage.
I looked down at the small purple rat. "I'm Xeno and this here is my partner, Cal. We're going on a journey around the entire Kanto region. Would you like to come with us? I sure would enjoy having you around."
"It's nice to meet you, Xeno and Cal. If I go with you, will you help me grow stronger?" Her eyes lit up with excitement at the idea of becoming strong.
"Of course, we'll all grow stronger together." I nodded at the Rattata and pulled a pokeball out of my bag. "Touch the button on here and you're officially part of the team. Also, you never gave us your name."
"My name? That's easy! I'm Harriet." With that she reached up and touched the button on the pokeball, and turned into a red light as it opened and she went inside. It shook three times and then stopped. Harriet was now a member of the team.
And then there were three.
Death Count: 0 (Hopefully, it'll stay that way for a while.)